Read Perché La logica nascosta delle nostre motivazioni Italian Edition eBook Dan Ariely
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- Paperback 304 pages
- Publisher Dundurn (March 26, 2019)
- Language English
- ISBN-10 1459744055
Read Perché La logica nascosta delle nostre motivazioni Italian Edition eBook Dan Ariely
By Liliana Mullins on Friday 31 May 2019
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Read Online The Stone Frigate The Royal Military College First Female Cadet Speaks Out Kate Armstrong 9781459744059 Books
By Liliana Mullins
Read Online The Stone Frigate The Royal Military College First Female Cadet Speaks Out Kate Armstrong 9781459744059 Books
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The Stone Frigate The Royal Military College First Female Cadet Speaks Out Kate Armstrong 9781459744059 Books Reviews
- This book opened my eyes to the RMC.. it is a rare look at what really went on.. Kate’s honesty openness and raw emotion was one of the bravest acts I’ve read...I couldn’t put it down and I am so grateful for the opportunity to read it.. I wanted to know more... thank you Kate
PDF Rick and Morty vs Dungeons Dragons Patrick Rothfuss Jim Zub Troy Little Books
By Liliana Mullins
PDF Rick and Morty vs Dungeons Dragons Patrick Rothfuss Jim Zub Troy Little Books
Download As PDF : Rick and Morty vs Dungeons Dragons Patrick Rothfuss Jim Zub Troy Little Books
You've got to--belch!--roll for initiative, Morty!
Two pop-culture juggernauts are teaming up and neither multiverse is prepared for what comes next!
When Morty sees a cute girl at school playing Dungeons Dragons, he asks Rick to show him the ropes, only to discover that his grandfather is a veteran gamer. Next thing he knows, the entire family has been pulled into a campaign that escalates from virtual DD simulations to alternate universes governed by the rules of the game. And as it turns out, Rick isn't the only one who knows his way around a d20.
#1 New York Times-bestselling fantasy author Patrick Rothfuss (The Name of the Wind), acclaimed comics writer Jim Zub (Dungeons Dragons Evil at Baldur's Gate, Skullkickers), and Eisner-nominated artist Troy Little (Hunter S. Thompson's Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas) bring you the comics crossover of the year! It's an irreverent, unexpected adventure sure to please fans of both franchises.
Collects the complete four issue miniseries.
PDF Rick and Morty vs Dungeons Dragons Patrick Rothfuss Jim Zub Troy Little Books
"Big fan of Rick and Morty and Patrick Rothfuss so I got all the individuals when they came out and STILL got the trade. Really amazing story as well as beautiful artwork. Some of the variant covers are amazing. Worthwhile addition for anyone even hesitating because it's just so good."
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Tags : Rick and Morty vs. Dungeons Dragons (9781684054169) Patrick Rothfuss, Jim Zub, Troy Little Books,Patrick Rothfuss, Jim Zub, Troy Little,Rick and Morty vs. Dungeons Dragons,IDW Publishing,1684054168,Comic books, strips, etc.,COMICS GRAPHIC NOVELS / Fantasy,COMICS GRAPHIC NOVELS / Humorous,COMICS GRAPHIC NOVELS / Media Tie-In,Comics Graphic Novels/Fantasy,Comics Graphic Novels/Humorous,Fiction,GRAPHIC NOVELS,General Adult,crossover;science fiction;fantasy;nerd gifts;graphic novels for adults;tabletop;nerd;geek gifts;d and d;role-playing game;rpg;adaptation;media tie-in;Justin Roiland;mature;cartoon network;d20;drow;graphic novels;comic books;comics;oni;idw;comedy;meeseeks;summer;tongue in cheek;humor;troy little;dan harmon;multiverse;wizards of the coast;adult swim;invention;initiative;geek;epic fantasy;adventure books;graphic novel;fantasy books;funny books;graphic novels for kids 12-15;funny;comic book,role-playing game; rpg; adaptation; media tie-in; Justin Roiland; mature; cartoon network; d20; drow; high school; graphic novels; comic books; comics; oni; idw; stranger; comedy; planes; reality; meeseeks; summer; tongue in cheek; humor; troy little; dan harmon; multiverse; wizards of the coast; adult swim; invention; initiative; crossover; science fiction; fantasy; nerd gifts; graphic novels for adults; tabletop; nerd; geek gifts; d and d; geek; epic fantasy; adventure books; funny books; fantasy books; graphic novel
Rick and Morty vs Dungeons Dragons Patrick Rothfuss Jim Zub Troy Little Books Reviews :
Rick and Morty vs Dungeons Dragons Patrick Rothfuss Jim Zub Troy Little Books Reviews
- I loved this. I think it's a must have for any D&D player that also loves Rick and Morty. I also think it would be great for Rick and Morty fans that want to start playing D&D, but aren't sure where to begin. It breaks down the rules in an easy to understand way while using the Rick and Morty humor that we all know and love.
- I love Rick and Morty as much as the next cynical millennial on the continent. Tabletop gaming has an even stronger attraction from my heart.
I recommend this story whole-heartedly. It flawlessly nails everything the fans on either side want.
My hopes are that Rick and Morty invade another beloved franchise, and then bestow upon that tale the love and care with which this one was written.
Buy this. You’ll love it. The world needs more. - I very much enjoy both Rick and Morty and D&D, and this comic hits a lot of the right buttons. The art is great. Having all the alternate covers (which this 4 part comic has a ton of alternates) and character stat sheets included is greatly appreciated. My only issue is some characterization of Rick that doesn't feel very true to his character, but even that doesn't feel like enough to knock off a star. Would definitely continue reading if they ever decided to continue with this crossover.
- This was absolutely fantastic. I was skeptical going in, but the writers did a truly fantastic job of capturing the tone of the Rick and Morty television series while also encapsulating the history and fun of D&D. I would highly recommend this to fans of either (as it may pique your interest in the other) and as an absolute must to fans of both. Great work!
- Big fan of Rick and Morty and Patrick Rothfuss so I got all the individuals when they came out and STILL got the trade. Really amazing story as well as beautiful artwork. Some of the variant covers are amazing. Worthwhile addition for anyone even hesitating because it's just so good.
- Great Quality and Fantastic Art! If you love D and D and Rick and Morty or even either one of the two you should definitely pick this up!
- Being a "mini series", I wasn't expecting too much, but I really liked this. I *do* like RPG and the D&D genre, so that helps. If you're not into that, this is should still be a solid 4-star series for you. If you like D&D, you'll likely agree with me on the 5-star rating I gave it.
- One of the greatest fantasy writers of this time, possibly of all time, meets Rick and Morty. I have been enjoying the Rick and Morty comic saga for a little while now. Couldn’t believe Patrick Rothfuss joined the group. One of my favorite writers and definitely my favorite inter dimensional duo, bring this series to the top. Not to mention the artwork! Beautifully done! Love it!
Download PDF Swim Away TriathlonTrilogie 1 German Edition eBook Kiki Sieg
By Liliana Mullins
Download PDF Swim Away TriathlonTrilogie 1 German Edition eBook Kiki Sieg
Download As PDF : Swim Away TriathlonTrilogie 1 German Edition eBook Kiki Sieg«Glaubst du das wirklich?», fragte Aurelie.
«Was?» Er fuhr sich durch die Haare. Etwas Hoffnungsvolles lag in seiner Stimme. «Dass man Sportliches und Privates verbinden kann?»
Sie schüttelte den Kopf.
«Dass ich Profi werden könnte.»
Aurelie ist talentiert, diszipliniert und ehrgeizig – gute Vorrausetzungen, um erfolgreiche Triathletin zu werden. Doch als sie gemeinsam mit den anderen Jugendlichen ihres Vereins zum ersten Mal im Nachwuchscup Norddeutschland startet, stellt sich die Frage Wie weit geht sie, um die Beste zu sein?
Aurelie ist hin- und hergerissen. Zwischen ihrem Team und ihren eigenen Zielen, zwischen Stolz und Gewissensbissen, zwischen richtig und falsch. Darf es außer Training noch etwas anderes in ihrem Leben geben oder ist Triathlon schon längst viel mehr geworden als nur ihr Hobby?
Eine fesselnde Geschichte über das Gewinnen, Verlieren und das, was dazwischenliegt.
Dies ist der erste Teil der Triathlon-Trilogie von Kiki Sieg.
Download PDF Swim Away TriathlonTrilogie 1 German Edition eBook Kiki Sieg
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Tags : Buy Swim Away (Triathlon-Trilogie 1) (German Edition) Read Reviews - ,ebook,Kiki Sieg,Swim Away (Triathlon-Trilogie 1) (German Edition),Juvenile Fiction / Sports Recreation / General,Fiction / Sports
Swim Away TriathlonTrilogie 1 German Edition eBook Kiki Sieg Reviews :
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Read Online The Dead Hand The Untold Story of the Cold War Arms Race and Its Dangerous Legacy David Hoffman 8601419058037 Books
By Liliana Mullins on Thursday 30 May 2019
Read Online The Dead Hand The Untold Story of the Cold War Arms Race and Its Dangerous Legacy David Hoffman 8601419058037 Books
Download As PDF : The Dead Hand The Untold Story of the Cold War Arms Race and Its Dangerous Legacy David Hoffman 8601419058037 BooksWINNER OF THE PULITZER PRIZE
The first full account of how the Cold War arms race finally came to a close, this riveting narrative history sheds new light on the people who struggled to end this era of massive overkill, and examines the legacy of the nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons that remain a threat today.
Drawing on memoirs, interviews in both Russia and the US, and classified documents from deep inside the Kremlin, David E. Hoffman examines the inner motives and secret decisions of each side and details the deadly stockpiles that remained unsecured as the Soviet Union collapsed. This is the fascinating story of how Reagan, Gorbachev, and a previously unheralded collection of scientists, soldiers, diplomats, and spies changed the course of history.
Read Online The Dead Hand The Untold Story of the Cold War Arms Race and Its Dangerous Legacy David Hoffman 8601419058037 Books
"I picked up this book after reading Hoffman's Billion Dollar Spy. This book, which won the Pulitzer Prize, is an extrememly gripping account of the of The Cold War during the Reagan administration and the Gorbachev years.
This is not a academic treatment of the subject, not a comprehensive account from the end of World War II through 1991. Instead, we are given an account of how the Reagan administration put pressure on the Soviets and the ways in which the Soviets reacted. It is this reaction that really is the chilling part of this fascinating book and gives rise to the so-called "Dead-Hand" that is the title. The best part of this account is that this book not only discusses the pretty well known aspects of the Reagan years, but the Soviet side of the conflict. In the light of years having passed, this is interesting and history not as well known
Having read many accounts of the Cold War because of personal fascinations, this book in some ways has information that I was familiar with, but Hoffman really uses new sources and synthesizes other accounts that still make this compelling reading on many levels.
This is a very worthwhile book if you have an interest in the subject, and frankly, most thinking person should want some idea just how difficult and scary the 1980's were in many respects. I also think that many of the Reagan doubters that really diminish the man will be surprised (as I was frequently) just how resolute and firm Reagan was during this time despite the negative attention he received (and not all of that negative information was organic either - read the book) . This is a very fair account of those times.
Recommended."
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Tags : The Dead Hand The Untold Story of the Cold War Arms Race and Its Dangerous Legacy [David Hoffman] on . <b>WINNER OF THE PULITZER PRIZE</b> The first full account of how the Cold War arms race finally came to a close,David Hoffman,The Dead Hand The Untold Story of the Cold War Arms Race and Its Dangerous Legacy,Anchor,0307387844,HIS027030,Military - Biological Chemical Warfare,Military - Nuclear Warfare,Modern - 20th Century,Arms race - History - 20th century,Arms race;History;20th century.,Cold War,Cold War - Influence,Cold War.,Gorbachev, Mikhail Sergeevich - Political and social views,Nuclear disarmament - History - 20th century,Nuclear disarmament;History;20th century.,Reagan, Ronald - Political and social views,Soviet Union - Foreign relations - United States,United States - Foreign relations - Soviet Union,20th century,20th century history c 1900 to c 2000,Arms race,GENERAL,General Adult,HISTORY / Military / Biological Chemical Warfare,HISTORY / Military / Nuclear Warfare,HISTORY / Modern / 20th Century,HISTORY / Russia the Former Soviet Union,History,History - General History,History/Military - Biological Chemical Warfare,History/Military - Nuclear Warfare,History/Russia the Former Soviet Union,History/United States - 20th Century,Military,Military - Biological Chemical Warfare,Military - Nuclear Warfare,Modern - 20th Century,NUCLEAR WARFARE,Non-Fiction,Nuclear disarmament,Nuclear disarmament - History - 20th century,Nuclear disarmament;History;20th century.,POLITICAL SCIENCE / International Relations / Arms Control,POST WORLD WAR II HISTORY,Political Science/International Relations - Arms Control,Reagan, Ronald - Political and social views,Soviet Union - Foreign relations - United States,United States,United States - Foreign relations - Soviet Union,cold war;the cold war;pulitzer prize winning books;pulitzer prize winners nonfiction;pulitzer prize winners;war;military;nuclear weapons;military history;russian history;world history;political science;international relations;geopolitics;nuclear;government;international politics;military history books;army;political philosophy;history books;history;gifts for dad;politics;political books;dad gifts;world politics;stalingrad;foreign affairs;fathers day gifts;american foreign policy,russian history; political science; world history; cold war; pulitzer prize winning books; pulitzer prize winners nonfiction; pulitzer prize winners; politics; military; military history; war; geopolitics; international politics; military history books; history books; history; political books; gifts for dad; dad gifts; fathers day gifts; stalingrad; world politics; the cold war; nuclear weapons; international relations; nuclear; government; army; political philosophy; foreign affairs; american foreign policy,HISTORY / Military / Biological Chemical Warfare,HISTORY / Military / Nuclear Warfare,HISTORY / Modern / 20th Century,HISTORY / Russia the Former Soviet Union,History/Military - Biological Chemical Warfare,History/Military - Nuclear Warfare,History/Russia the Former Soviet Union,History/United States - 20th Century,POLITICAL SCIENCE / International Relations / Arms Control,Political Science/International Relations - Arms Control,History - General History,20th century,Arms race,Nuclear disarmament,Nuclear Warfare,Post World War II History,History,Military,20th century history c 1900 to c 2000
The Dead Hand The Untold Story of the Cold War Arms Race and Its Dangerous Legacy David Hoffman 8601419058037 Books Reviews :
The Dead Hand The Untold Story of the Cold War Arms Race and Its Dangerous Legacy David Hoffman 8601419058037 Books Reviews
- I picked up this book after reading Hoffman's Billion Dollar Spy. This book, which won the Pulitzer Prize, is an extrememly gripping account of the of The Cold War during the Reagan administration and the Gorbachev years.
This is not a academic treatment of the subject, not a comprehensive account from the end of World War II through 1991. Instead, we are given an account of how the Reagan administration put pressure on the Soviets and the ways in which the Soviets reacted. It is this reaction that really is the chilling part of this fascinating book and gives rise to the so-called "Dead-Hand" that is the title. The best part of this account is that this book not only discusses the pretty well known aspects of the Reagan years, but the Soviet side of the conflict. In the light of years having passed, this is interesting and history not as well known
Having read many accounts of the Cold War because of personal fascinations, this book in some ways has information that I was familiar with, but Hoffman really uses new sources and synthesizes other accounts that still make this compelling reading on many levels.
This is a very worthwhile book if you have an interest in the subject, and frankly, most thinking person should want some idea just how difficult and scary the 1980's were in many respects. I also think that many of the Reagan doubters that really diminish the man will be surprised (as I was frequently) just how resolute and firm Reagan was during this time despite the negative attention he received (and not all of that negative information was organic either - read the book) . This is a very fair account of those times.
Recommended. - This book gives a very interesting look into a particular part of the Cold War nuclear arms race between the Soviet Union and the U.S. But the scope of the book is very limited especially considering its size and from what the title implies. This book has very little to say about the nuclear arms race before the Reagan administration and seems to rush through things after the Reagan leaves office. I think that this is mainly due to the fact that the author was a Washington Post corespondent during the that time and that is what he is most familiar with but it seems very strange reading the detail he gives to Reagan's interactions with the Soviet Union and the way he seems to gloss over the Bush and Clinton Administrations. There is also comparatively little attention paid to the U.S. side of the nuclear arms build up as well as the various schemes that both sides had for dealing with a first strike that they feared the other side would do, The book is named after one of these deterrent measures but the book doesn't really go into any detail on what The Dead Hand actually is and why the Soviets devised this strategy. This is a good book for someone interested in the discussions and negotiations toward the end of the soviet era and it is very informative about the Soviet Chemical and Biological Weapons program but it is not very informative about the overall strategy of deterrence or what was going on on the U.S. side of the race.
- This book contains a LOT of interesting revelations.
David Hoffman does an outstanding job of explaining how the Soviet Union's hierarchy RESENTED the fact that they were so weak, and so vulnerable, and so inflexible.
They did not want to be resisted. It was as though they had a right to world-wide domination and they knew they were too weak to resist any kind of criticism. Amazing.
They knew their top-down command and control system, which they demanded, failed to provide basic essentials for the people of the Soviet Union. Gorbachev KNEW it. Author Hoffman discusses it at great length. But they absolutely refused to relent and instead tightened up their controls, increased the corruption ... and every time they ratcheted down, it made things worse and worse and worse. And the controls were so costly, that they eventually bankrupted the country. But they demanded more and more controls.
[Slightly off topic ... those controls were exported to Cuba and to Venezuela ... and had the same effect. Today in Venezuela, they are rationing water!]
The details of the shootdown of KAL 007 demonstrated that their interceptor force was incredibly clumsy; they were unable to coordinate, they were unable to verify what they were targeting and for such a large country, their airplanes had a very short range. If you look at an airliner or a photo of an airliner, the airplane's registration number is painted at the back end of the fuselage and low. The reason for the seemingly peculiar location is that if the airliner somehow shows up on radar as an "unknown" [a bogie], then an interceptor is supposed to fly to the unknown plane so the pilot can visually identify the type of airplane and then fly close enough to read the registration number and not alarm the passengers.
The Soviet plane got nowhere near the KAL 007 airplane. The Soviet pilot was unable to make an actual identification.
When American planes intercept unknown airliners, the interceptors go up in pairs. One pilot hangs back a mile "just in case" and the other pilot closes to within ten feet or 20 feet. [These are very skillful pilots.] They have to be able to do this at night and in bad weather. Usually, the plane is an off-course airliner. So, they just back away and return to base. If the airplane is "hostile" or if it is some other country's reconnaissance plane, they could escort it or take pictures [the usual procedure] or shoot it down.
The Soviet pilot just shot KAL 007 down. Never made a positive identification.
The book goes into huge detail on the KAL 007 shoot down ... and how it fed into Soviet paranoia and how that tied in with the development of their Dead Hand "philosophy" and "psychology".
And how the Soviets "assumed" that their paranoia was mirrored by the Americans ... which is was not.
[By the way, the U.S. Air Force used a number of different types of aircraft for interception, including the F-102 of which we had about one thousand operated by both the Air Force and the Air National Guard. There were thousands of pilots trained for the mission, as part of the SAGE system. You can look it up. One of the interceptor pilots ... very skilled ... was a Lieutenant George W. Bush. Interesting. Look up the weapons upload of the F-102 for a reason why Bush never discussed his service. Pilots carrying those particular weapons have never discussed their mission. Check out the detail about the F-102; lots of books about it on .]
Ebook L'arcobaleno lunare Italian Edition eBook Simona Mendo
By Liliana Mullins
Ebook L'arcobaleno lunare Italian Edition eBook Simona Mendo
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PDF America Before The Key to Earth Lost Civilization Audible Audio Edition Graham Hancock Macmillan Audio Books
By Liliana Mullins
PDF America Before The Key to Earth Lost Civilization Audible Audio Edition Graham Hancock Macmillan Audio Books
Download As PDF : America Before The Key to Earth Lost Civilization Audible Audio Edition Graham Hancock Macmillan Audio BooksThis program is read by the author.
Was an advanced civilization lost to history in the global cataclysm that ended the last Ice Age? Graham Hancock, the internationally best-selling author, has made it his life's work to find out - and in America Before, he draws on the latest archaeological and DNA evidence to bring his quest to a stunning conclusion.Â
We've been taught that North and South America were empty of humans until around 13,000 years ago - among the last great landmasses on earth to have been settled by our ancestors. But new discoveries have radically reshaped this long-established picture, and we know now that the Americas were first peopled more than 130,000 years ago - many tens of thousands of years before human settlements became established elsewhere.Â
Hancock's research takes us on a series of journeys and encounters with the scientists responsible for the recent extraordinary breakthroughs. In the process, from the Mississippi Valley to the rain forest, he reveals that ancient "New World" cultures share a legacy of advanced scientific knowledge and sophisticated spiritual beliefs with supposedly unconnected "Old World" cultures. Have archaeologists focused for too long only on the "Old World" in their search for the origins of civilization while failing to consider the revolutionary possibility that those origins might in fact be found in the "New World"?Â
America Before The Key to Earth's Lost Civilization is the culmination of everything that millions of people have loved in Hancock's body of work over the past decades, namely a mind-dilating exploration of the mysteries of the past, amazing archaeological discoveries, and profound implications for how we lead our lives today. Â
PDF America Before The Key to Earth Lost Civilization Audible Audio Edition Graham Hancock Macmillan Audio Books
"People love to trash Graham Hancock. Hancock has earned a reputation as someone who pushes ‘pseudoscientific theories’. This immediately makes him irrelevant to a large portion of the population interested in archeology and history. His theories are not outlandish. There’s really no one else out there who writes books like Graham Hancock does. If you love mysteries, archeology or history you will enjoy this book. I love reading his books because he presents hypotheses and data but ultimately ends up leaving the questions open ended and for you to decide. He is not a whack job. If you’ve ever heard him speak it is clear that he is very articulate and thoughtful. There seems to be a theme in archeology that ‘history can only be this old because we’ve only found things this old’. Every couple of years a new discovery is made that completely turns the accepted archeological dogma on its head. It was thought for a long time that the Clovis culture was the first significant culture in America. Why? Because ‘we haven’t found anything older, so this has to be correct’. It does not seem hard to believe that people who lived off the land and built shelters out of wood and earth would be hardly detectable thousands of years later. Hancock proposes that civilizations are much older than generally accepted and sites like Göbekli Tepe have validated him. There’s no aliens helping Mayans build temples in this book. His theory that civilizations across the world seem to share similar myths and knowledge does not seem far fetched to me. The human race had to have started somewhere and spread across the globe. Myths and knowledge had to have spread with them. Read the book, take the journey and hear what the man has to say then decide for yourself. You may not agree with all of his points but one thing is clear: Hancock is a very intelligent man who has done lots of research. His books are exciting and very well written."
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Tags : America Before The Key to Earth's Lost Civilization (Audible Audio Edition) Graham Hancock, Macmillan Audio Books, ,Graham Hancock, Macmillan Audio,America Before The Key to Earth's Lost Civilization,Macmillan Audio,B07K4HT819
America Before The Key to Earth Lost Civilization Audible Audio Edition Graham Hancock Macmillan Audio Books Reviews :
America Before The Key to Earth Lost Civilization Audible Audio Edition Graham Hancock Macmillan Audio Books Reviews
- I received Graham Hancock’s new book in the mail from the publisher to review a little under a week ago as I write this review. I reached out to St. Martin’s Press back in February and offered to review it and, although I received a polite response indicating that I’d be considered, I was somewhat surprised to actually receive it just days ago, nearly a week ahead of its official release date in the United States (it’s been available in the UK for weeks now). My surprise was that the publisher either didn’t vet my previous reviews of pseudoarchaeology or that they did and were willing to take a chance anyway.
Having provided the above disclosure, let me say that though I didn’t spend money on the book, I will make an effort not to be swayed by the “gift.â€
If you Google the word “pseudoarchaeology†then click the first link, which is probably to Wikipedia, Graham Hancock’s photograph is displayed prominently at the top of that page. If you read this review to its completion, you’ll understand why.
The Book
The book itself is thick. Weighing in at nearly 600 pages, it has 30 chapters broken down into 8 parts. That said, it reads very well. It isn’t dense by any means and, though Hancock references quite a bit if real science, it isn’t overloaded with jargon or technobabble. In fact, Hancock’s writing style is generally very good. I found myself annoyed at some of his writing habits (“the reader will recall…,†etc.) but I wouldn’t expect this to bother most others. For the average reader who isn’t scientifically inclined, Hancock does a better than average job explaining concepts. At least to the extent that he actually understands them.
Hancock begins the book with sections discussing the Serpent Mound in Ohio, the Cerutti Mastodon site in California, ancient DNA (aDNA), and earthworks and dirt in South America. Early on, he begins his love-hate relationship with archaeologists as a theme that continues as an undercurrent or sub-plot to his overall narrative. On one hand, he’s clearly enamored with archaeologists and the work that’s been done that suits his own ideas. On the other, however, he’s clearly upset that archaeologists refuse to let him in the club—to give equal deference to these ideas. If you stick to the end of this review, you’ll understand why.
Brother, can you paradigm?
The overall theme develops slowly. Hancock simmers the pot as he slowly introduces each premise he believes leads up to it. But the sub-theme is right there in our face from chapter to chapter archaeologists aren’t to be trusted because they are resistant to “new paradigms.â€
He’s immediately on the offensive and continues through to the end, accusing archaeologists and archaeology as being an institution that doesn’t want change and will ruin careers to see to it that none of it happens. The dead horse he beats over and over is the Clovis first hypothesis. That there were people prior to Clovis is something he says, “archaeologists have recently been dragged kicking and screaming to accept.†As example, he mentions the work of Jacques Cinq-Mars, who insisted years ago that he was finding pre-Clovis materials at Bluefish Caves in Alaska.
“As a result of such attitudes, funding drained away and Cinq-Mars had to stop his work, only to be proved correct, many years later, by a new scientific study…â€
Hancock, p.58
I can’t speak for Cinq-Mars and the extent to which his career was affected by the Clovis-first hypothesis. But, then, neither can Hancock. Archaeologists are people. Some people excel in their jobs; others not so much. The Clovis-first “paradigm†as the fringe are so fond of saying (“paradigm†is a sciencey sounding word) went out of fashion decades ago. Are there still some old-timers clinging to it? Perhaps. But there are some very well-to-do archaeologists who were on the cusp of discovering pre-Clovis back when it was made a part of history.
Here’s how it works scientists obtain data. That data are analyzed and more data are obtained based on new research questions… and so on. Eventually, a provisional conclusion is arrived at—usually when the data reach some sort of plateau or some overriding reason exists to think the data aren’t likely to change. For the Clovis-first hypothesis (it was always a hypothesis more than a “paradigmâ€), older sites were just not yet found. And once they started to show up, there was evidence that peopling North America had to occur after 13,000 years ago due to the small window of opportunity provided by an “ice-free corridor†and lowered sea-levels that created a land-bridge across the Bearing Sea.
Archaeologists, rightly demanded strong evidence before accepting a pre-Clovis hypothesis. This, they demanded of themselves. And they met the challenge. All conclusions in archaeology, as with any science, are provisional. They’re waiting sufficient evidence to either support or revise them as conclusions. Sometimes they’re completely scrapped and something very new takes its place. In the case of Clovis-first, some would say the revision is small. The Clovis culture still exists in the archaeological record. Everything that was found of them is still present. But we now know that there existed cultures before this technology came about. Let’s not forget, “Clovis†describes the technology not the societal norms, kinships, and beliefs of the various peoples that made use of it.
The alternative would have been to simply accept a new hypothesis as a provisional conclusion, willy-nilly and without sufficient evidence. Of course, all would have turned out fine. Pre-Clovis is the correct way to think. But such a slippery-slope of letting just any-old hypothesis in as a provisional conclusion just won’t work. If it wasn’t hard to change a provisional conclusion for a new one, where would the line be drawn? At Vikings in Minnesota? At “bigfoot?†The nephilim? The Annunaki? Polka-dotted unicorns that breathe fire and traded corn with China 25,000 years ago?
Chances are, I lost the average fan of Graham Hancock somewhere between “Vikings†and the “unicorns.†But who gets to draw that line. Hancock would like it to include his own idea. Let’s press on to see why it’s a bad one.
Guilt By Association
I won’t spend any time on the Cerutti Mastodon site here. It has its own problems, but one of them is now Graham Hancock. But I found it interesting that Tom Deméré initially declined to meet with Hancock, then did so with what seemed to be open arms if Hancock’s account is to be believed. It’s interesting because Hancock mentions later in his book that “Egyptologists avoid me†and spends several pages discussing how different factions of the Younger Dryas impact hypothesis were upset that he incorporated each other’s’ material. Apparently a video of Hancock’s was posted to an anti-pseudoscience website and one of the scientists “achieved some unwanted negative-celebrity among his colleagues. He was challenged about the wisdom of hosting [Hancock] and suffered the indignity of wondering about the effect the … video might have on his career and reputation.â€
The recent association of Deméré with the pseudoarchaeological television show hosted by Megan Fox and now the pseudoarchaeological notions of Graham Hancock are likely to do little in helping him win over his colleagues.
Chopping Down a Cherry-Picked Tree
In the final few sections of the book, Hancock returns to North America where he describes some of the earliest known earthen mounds in North America, such as Watson Brake and Poverty Point. Then he heads up the Mississippi River Valley, ultimately to Ohio and the more recent mounds there. All the while describing alignments, the solstices, lunar cycles, astro-archaeological features, and so on. But this is also where he dives head first into specious comparisons between Native Americans and ancient Egyptians. He readily admits he doesn’t think there were any cross-cultural transmissions of information, and that he accepts the “orthodox†explanation that geographic and temporal separation of these two cultures means that they didn’t have the chance to share information.
But it’s after his section on the global cataclysm that only affected North America that he finally comes clean on what his game truly is. He states several times through the book that he believes that there was a “lost civilization†which was a “third party†responsible for the similarities we see in multiple cultures. An example is the constellation Orion seen as relating to the land of the dead in both Egyptian and Native American cultures. Never mind that the constellation we understand to be Orion today, probably the easiest to spot north of the equator. And that it “travels†east to west, seasonally. Or that, the sun coming up in the east is so easily associated with birth and renewal and, as it sets, associated with death and ancestors. The common element need not be a “lost civilization.†It’s already people. Humans. Homo sapiens. The same common element for all of his other spurious correlations.
By this time, I’ve waded through Hancock’s cherry-picked science. I say “cherry-picked†because he avoids a lot of the parts that don’t work for him. For instance, he likes where Raghavan et al (2015) and Skoglund et al (2015) mention the “Australasian signal†among some of the ancient populations of South America. He likes it a lot. In fact, he mentions is many times after chapter 9 where he introduces it. And even though he provides the quote where Skoglund et al clarify that it was the founding population that was more closely related to indigenous Australians, New Guineans, and Andamen Islanders than to other Native American groups, he still missed the significance. Or at least he didn’t adequately share that significance with his readers.
What the Australasian genetic “signal†really tells us is that we should be on the lookout for populations that were fast-moving or small. There’s also as good a chance that this Population-Y (the Australasian population in question) began in Southeast Asia then moved both north toward Beringia and south into Melanesia and Australia and what we’re seeing is where they ended up. Hancock doesn’t share these bits along with many others. They don’t jive with his shtick.
What’s the Gist of It All?
Overall, America Before is presented as a carefully picked set of genuine scientific notions, mixed with a few pseudoarchaeological ideas (like spurious similarities between Egyptian and Native American cultures) in order to set Hancock up for his final pitch. One that he holds back until he thinks he’s won the lay-reader over. His easy-to read writing style makes the reader comfortable and probably sympathetic to him personally. He carefully poisons the well here and there with “the skeptics will say…†etc.
There is much within America Before that I can actually agree with. And there is much that I could “debunk†in this book if I cared to. I suspect the comments below will give me ample opportunity if the Hancock acolytes and cult following (he truly is a charismatic figure with a following) respond. But the reality is, none of the premises Hancock puts forth, even if every single one were correct, would mean that his conclusion is right. He conveniently provides a conclusion that cannot be tested or evaluated by science since it isn’t within the realm of science.
Here’s his conclusion
“My speculation, which I will not attempt to prove here or to support with evidence but merely present for consideration, is that the advanced civilization I see evolving in North America during the Ice Age had transcended leverage and mechanical advantage and learned to manipulate matter and energy by deploying powers of consciousness that we have not yet begun to tap.â€
In short, Hancock believes this “lost civilization†used telepathy, telekinesis, remote viewing, and healing powers to transmit their legacy to the world.
I wondered throughout the entire book what mechanism he would suggest. I honestly thought it would be the power of oral history, perhaps tied to mnemonic devices (figurines, rock art, landscapes) or religious ritual to ensure fidelity.
I was not expecting ESP.
References
M. Raghavan, et al (2015). Genomic evidence for the Pleistocene and recent population history of Native Americans. Science, 349, p. 3884.
P. Skoglund, et al (2015). Genetic evidence for two founding populations of the Americas. Nature, 525, pp. 104-108 - He's one of the leading researchers on this so I'll happily buy all of his books to support his investigation into our past!
check him out on the Joe Rogan Podcast if you haven't already.
Making a trip to Peru soon marking the beginning of many more adventures to come regarding my visiting of ancient structures. - People love to trash Graham Hancock. Hancock has earned a reputation as someone who pushes ‘pseudoscientific theories’. This immediately makes him irrelevant to a large portion of the population interested in archeology and history. His theories are not outlandish. There’s really no one else out there who writes books like Graham Hancock does. If you love mysteries, archeology or history you will enjoy this book. I love reading his books because he presents hypotheses and data but ultimately ends up leaving the questions open ended and for you to decide. He is not a whack job. If you’ve ever heard him speak it is clear that he is very articulate and thoughtful. There seems to be a theme in archeology that ‘history can only be this old because we’ve only found things this old’. Every couple of years a new discovery is made that completely turns the accepted archeological dogma on its head. It was thought for a long time that the Clovis culture was the first significant culture in America. Why? Because ‘we haven’t found anything older, so this has to be correct’. It does not seem hard to believe that people who lived off the land and built shelters out of wood and earth would be hardly detectable thousands of years later. Hancock proposes that civilizations are much older than generally accepted and sites like Göbekli Tepe have validated him. There’s no aliens helping Mayans build temples in this book. His theory that civilizations across the world seem to share similar myths and knowledge does not seem far fetched to me. The human race had to have started somewhere and spread across the globe. Myths and knowledge had to have spread with them. Read the book, take the journey and hear what the man has to say then decide for yourself. You may not agree with all of his points but one thing is clear Hancock is a very intelligent man who has done lots of research. His books are exciting and very well written.
- Hancock dismantles conventional archaeology and ancient world history in the well-written book. Many will find it more than intriguing, perhaps mesmerizing. Bravo!
